An arrangement of motorcycle navigation system components enables both a meter display unit and a navigation display unit to be easily viewed by the vehicle operator. A motorcycle includes a meter display unit for displaying drive information such as a vehicle speed or a travel distance, and a navigation display unit for displaying the destination or the current vehicle position. Both display units are covered by a single transparent panel which permits the displays to be viewed therethrough. The navigation display unit is arranged behind the meter display unit, relative to the front of the vehicle, so as to protrude rearwardly with respect to the meter display unit, to give a driver of the motorcycle a clear view of both units, without significant overlap.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A motorcycle comprising a vehicle navigation system, said vehicle navigation system comprising: a meter display unit for displaying information including at least one of a vehicle speed and a travel distance; a navigation display unit for displaying an image representing at least one of a destination and a current vehicle position; and a main control box which is operatively attached to steering handle of the vehicle so as to be easily reachable by an operator while driving, said main control box comprising a plurality of control switches for use in controlling selected functions of the navigation display unit during vehicle operation; wherein the navigation display unit is disposed behind the meter display unit relative to the front of the motorcycle, so that the navigation display unit protrudes rearwardly with respect to the meter display unit.
2. The motorcycle according to claim 1 , the motorcycle navigation system further comprising a transparent panel for covering both the meter display unit and the navigation display unit, wherein the meter display unit and the navigation display unit are integrated together within the panel and a frame body, and wherein the frame body frames the navigation display unit independently from the meter display unit so as to distinguish the appearance of the navigation display unit from the meter display unit.
3. The motorcycle according to claim 2 , wherein the meter display unit and the navigation display unit are integrated together within a housing and covered by the panel, wherein the panel encloses the periphery of the housing so as to resist entry of moisture between the panel and the housing.
4. The motorcycle according to claim 1 , wherein the components are situated such that during operation of the motorcycle by an operator, the navigation display unit is positioned between an operator and the meter display unit; and wherein the main control box also comprises additional switches for controlling other vehicle functions in addition to said selected functions of the navigation display unit.
5. The motorcycle according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller for the navigation display unit, wherein the controller is positioned at a rear portion of the motorcycle.
6. The motorcycle according to claim 1 , wherein the motorcycle further includes an acoustic system, the acoustic system comprising at least one mid-range speaker and at least one high-range speaker, wherein the at least one mid-range speaker and at least one high-range speaker are positioned laterally adjacent to the navigation display unit.
7. The motorcycle according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one high range speaker is pivotally mounted to the motorcycle so as to permit both vertical and horizontal adjustment of the orientation of the at least one high range speaker with respect to the motorcycle.
8. The motorcycle of claim 1 , further comprising a sub control box spaced away from the main control box, said sub control box comprising a plurality of additional navigation control buttons provided for use by an operator when the vehicle is stopped.
9. A motorcycle navigation system comprising: a navigation display unit for displaying navigation information including at least one of a destination and a current vehicle position; a control unit for driving the navigation display unit; and an operating element connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is disposed in a trunk box provided in the rear of the motorcycle body.
10. The motorcycle navigation system according to claim 9 , wherein the control unit is mounted to a side wall surface of the trunk box.
11. The motorcycle navigation system according to claim 9 , wherein the control unit includes a base member which abuts and confronts the wall surface, a unit body for positioning the control unit on the base member, and a cover member which covers the unit body, and wherein the unit body is fixed to the base member by being sandwiched between the base member and the cover member and by securing the base member and the cover member together to the wall surface.
12. The motorcycle navigation system of claim 9 wherein the navigation system further comprises a meter display unit which displays information including at least one of a vehicle speed and a travel distance, and wherein the navigation display unit is positioned between an operator and the meter display unit.
13. The motorcycle navigation system of claim 9 wherein the navigation system further comprises a meter display unit which displays information including at least one of a vehicle speed and a travel distance, and wherein the navigation display unit and the meter display unit are integrated together within a housing, the housing including a frame body which frames the navigation display unit independently of the meter display unit.
14. The motorcycle navigation system of claim 9 wherein the navigation system further comprises a meter display unit which displays information including at least one of a vehicle speed and a travel distance, and wherein the navigation display unit and the meter display unit are integrated together within a housing, the housing including a single transparent plate which overlies both the navigation display unit and the meter display unit.
15. The motorcycle navigation system of claim 9 wherein the navigation system further includes at least one mid-range speaker and at least one high-range speaker, wherein the at least one mid-range speaker and at least one high-range speaker are positioned laterally adjacent to the navigation display unit.
16. The motorcycle navigation system of claim 9 wherein the at least one high range speaker is pivotally mounted to the motorcycle so as to permit both vertical and horizontal adjustment of the orientation of the at least one high range speaker with respect to the motorcycle.
17. The motorcycle navigation system of claim 9 wherein the navigation system further includes at least one mid-range speaker, at least one high-range speaker, and at least one low range speaker, wherein the at least one mid-range speaker and at least one high-range speaker are positioned laterally adjacent to the navigation display unit which is disposed the front of the motorcycle body, and the at least one low range speaker is disposed in the trunk box provided in the rear of the motorcycle body.
18. The motorcycle of claim 9 , further comprising: a main control box which is operatively attached to a steering handle of the vehicle so as to be easily reachable by an operator while driving, said main control box comprising a plurality of control switches for use in controlling selected functions of the navigation display unit during vehicle operation; and a sub control box spaced away from the main control box, said sub control box comprising a plurality of additional navigation control buttons provided for use by an operator when the vehicle is stopped.
19. The motorcycle of claim 18 , wherein the main control box also comprises additional switches for controlling other vehicle functions in addition to said selected functions of the navigation display unit.
20. A motorcycle comprising a vehicle navigation system, said vehicle navigation system comprising: a navigation display unit for displaying an image representing at least one of a destination and a current vehicle position; a meter display unit for displaying information including at least one of a vehicle speed and a travel distance; a transparent panel for covering both the meter display unit and the navigation display unit; a frame body for integrating the navigation display unit and the meter display unit together, wherein the frame body frames the navigation display unit independently from the meter display unit so as to distinguish the appearance of the navigation display unit from the meter display unit; a control unit for driving the navigation display unit; an operating element electronically connected to the control unit, said operating element comprising a main control box which is operatively attached to a handlebar of the vehicle so as to be easily reachable by an operator while driving, said main control box comprising a plurality of control switches for use in controlling selected functions of the navigation display unit during vehicle operation; and an acoustic system, the acoustic system comprising at least two mid-range speakers and at least two high-range speakers, wherein the mid-range speakers and high-range speakers are positioned laterally spaced apart from the navigation display unit; wherein the navigation display unit is disposed behind the meter display unit relative to the front of the motorcycle, so that the navigation display unit protrudes rearwardly such that the navigation unit is jutted outwardly from the meter unit; wherein the meter display unit and the navigation display unit are rigidly integrated together within a housing and covered by said transparent panel, wherein the panel encloses a periphery of the housing so as to resist entry of moisture between the panel and the housing.
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April 28, 2005
September 29, 2009
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